About the Project
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wow that's a lot of stars is an original sci-fi setting inspiring games, stories, music, and more. It's based on and used with the Stars Without Number Revised Edition TTRPG by Kevin Crawford and builds upon concepts from the rulebook.
This page covers more information on why this site exists, and what to expect from reading its contents. You can also read about the setting.
Let's Tell a Story
I've spent my life imagining incredible tales of people and places that will never exist, but I didn't want to just tell them. I wanted to live them. More than that, I wanted to bring my friends along with me. It turns out, it's easy to convince someone to tell stories with you when there are clacky math rocks involved. I started my first campaign in 2020, after only a few months of building what would later become the Talos Sector - a setting about the universal struggle of reconnecting after growing apart. With spaceships.The Setting
After a galactic catastrophe lead to centuries of isolation, a handful of human-populated planets have managed to reconnect. Now their alliance is straining under the weight of diverged cultures and incompatible priorities.
Every habited planet in the Talos Sector covers different aspects of sci-fi sub-genres, allowing each campaign to have its own, more specific themes and adventures. Details of the setting get filled in as needed to best support the stories we want to tell.
Genre
Tone
Talos deals in grey morality and difficult choices, with an undertone of hope. It's not always clear who is a villain or what the right answer is, but there are always those trying to make the galaxy a better place. Despite tragedy and strife, things will be okay.The Experience
I made this setting to combat feeling powerless in the face of awful real-world events. Here, I want to empower reader and player to take action and stand up for what they believe in. This is a future in motion. Someone is always up to something, and anything could change if the right person intervenes.
Some articles and plots deal with heavier topics like loss, classism, and xenophobia. However, this setting is also built for fun and escapism, and certain concepts like racism, sexism, and queerphobia are absent entirely.
As a Reader
Readers can start at (nearly) any article and follow along with no additional context. Places like the Visitor's Center and Identify Yourself give suggestions based on areas of interest.As a Player
This is a collaborative work, and players have nearly as much say in the plot and setting as I do. Their input, goals, and decisions influence ongoing and future stories.
Your backstory may unlock personalized content.
Select or Update
Select or Update
Timeline
2019
Worldbuilding starts.
2020
Night Knights Insignia by Rin Garnett
Campaign 1 starts.
2021
Gal Pals Logo by Rin Garnett
Campaign 1 ends.
Campaign 2 begins.
Campaign 2 begins.
2023
wow that's a lot of stars created and reaches 50 followers.
Campaign 2 ends.
Campaign 2 ends.
2024
by sunnybirdboi via Canva
wow that's a lot of stars reaches 100 followers and is nominated for Most Beautiful World.
Five-episode audio mini-series released.
Mini-campaign 1 begins and ends.
Five-episode audio mini-series released.
Mini-campaign 1 begins and ends.
2025
wow that's a lot of stars nominated for Best World.
2026
wow that's a lot of stars awarded Best World and reaches 200 followers.
